Torchwood: Comics

This guide page was last updated in 2008. There have been several comics since, which may be catalogued here in a future update.

Issue 1, January 24th 2008

The Legacy of Torchwood One!
10 pages, w: Simon Furman, Art: SL Gallant, Colours: Hi-Fi Design, Lettering: Richard Starkings/Comicraft

Ianto meets a beggar on the streets of Cardiff – Rupert Howarth, former head of Torchwood One’s bio-chemical research division and Ianto’s former mentor. He had faked his own death while on the verge of creating a cure for all the world’s illnesses, which had put him under undue pressure from the pharmaceutical industry. The team investigate a fire in a warehouse (possibly caused by someone trying to hunt down Howarth) and Gwen is attacked by the ghost of her piano teacher who died when she was six. Howarth admits he was experimenting on humans to create something to attack terrorists with and one of them escaped and began hunting him. The chimera breaks into Torchwood (Ianto sees it as Lisa) and dies killing Howarth.
Probably set at some point prior to Owen’s death.

The 65-page magazine also contained previews of series 2 episodes 3-6, an interview with John Barrowman and James Marsters, a feature on the set pieces, an interview with the guest stars of Sleeper Nikki Amuka-Bird and Dyfed Potter, a brief character guide, a feature on the Kiss Kiss Bang Bang blowfish, an interview with Naoko Mori and a message from Chris Chibnall.

Issue 2, February 21st 2008

This issue was missing the comic strip, but it did instead feature previews of episodes 7-10, an interview with Eve Myles, a look at the visual effects for Meat, an interview with Freema Agyeman, a look at the creation of the Mayfly, an interview with Andy Dick, an interview with James Moran, one with Anthony Lewis, and a message from Richard Stokes.

Issue 3, March 20th 2008

Jetsam
11 pages, Script/Art: Brian Williamson, Colours: Kris Karter, Lettering: Jimmy Betancourt/Comicraft

The Torchwood team investigate a strange collection of artefacts that have appeared on the shore, along with a set of motorbike tyre-marks. Gwen realises it must be the gang known as the Brimstone Skulls, all bar one of whom were recently murdered (in fact trapped inside a giant Rubik’s Cube). As one of the artefacts, a large bike, takes Tosh for a spin, they learn that the machines are all alien weapons of war. Ultimately, Tosh takes control and forces the machines to shut down.
There is nothing to indicate at what point this story takes place, except that Martha is not present.

This 65-page issue also featured previews of episodes 11-13, an interview with Burn Gorman (and Matt Jones), a feature on the making of Owen’s underwater scene, a behind the scenes feature on Something Borrowed, an interview with Richard Briers, one with Jonathan Fox Bassett, a make-up feature on Freema Agyeman’s aging, a fictional interview with Abigail Crowe and a piece by Chris Chibnall on how a script is created.

Issue 4, April 17th 2008

Rift War! Part One
10 pages, Script: Simon Furman, Art: Paul Grist, Colours: Kris Carter, Lettering: Jimmy Betancourt/Comicraft

Tosh spies rift activity all across the city, and the team rush to investigate. Strange wolf-creatures appear from nowhere and attack – Jack learns that they intend to destroy Torchwood to guarantee their own future. The team kill most of the creatures, but capture one of them – the rest escape. A fight breaks out between the captive alien and Jack, but Jack wins with Tosh’s help. The team return to the Hub to find it, and Tosh, gone…

This 100-page special also included interviews with Naoko Mori, Burn Gorman, Richard Stokes, Ruth Jones and Kai Owen and also features on Exit Wounds and Fragments along with a full episode guide to the second series.

Issue 5, May 15th 2008

Rift War! Part Two
11 pages, Script: Simon Furman, Art: Paul Grist, Colours; Hi-Fi Design, Letting: Jimmy Betancourt & Richard Starkings/Comicraft

Tosh is still alive, sat on the part of the Hub in the middle of space. Owen was able to retrieve a recall device from the aliens which he takes to Jack. Tosh meets a mysterious man who explains that she is stuck between moments in time and that the wolf creatures are the Harrowkind, servants of the Sanctified. Tosh brings the Hub back into normal time, and the man, Vox, joins forces with Torchwood to defeat the Sanctified.

This 66-page issue also included interviews with Gareth David-Lloyd, Chris Chibnall (talking about Fragments), designer Ray Holman, director Andy Goddard, Freema Agyeman and  features on the deaths of Jack and the second trilogy of novels.